Locking device for valises.



DE KELLER STAMEY.

LOOKING DEVICE FOR VALISES.

APPLIOATION FILED APR.16, 1910.

Patented m. 22, 1910;

2 SHEETS-BHBET 1.

DE KELLER STAMEY IIOGKING DEVICE POR VALISES.

APPLICATION FILED APB-.16, 1910.

Patented-Nov. 22, 1910.0 0

2 SHEETS SHEET 2.

3 -,D&

M 0 Y w DE KELLEW STMJIEY, GE NEW YORK, N.

' Lorraine names For. vanrsns.

Specification of Letters Patent.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that LDE KELLER STAMEY, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York city, in the State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Locking Devices for Valises, of which the,

following is a specification.

This invention relates to grips, traveling bags, valises, and the like, and relates more particularly to locking devices of that type which are self-latching upon the mere ciosing of the grip bag or valises.

The invention has for one of its objects to improve and simplify the construction and operation of devices of this character so as to be comparatively simple and inexpensive to manufacture, reliable and eflicient in use, and so designed that the article to which it is applied can be latched automatically, the latch holding the article closed at a plurality of points so that there is no danger of the article gaping open.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a. novel latching means together with a lock for holding the latch in locked position.

lYith those objects in view, and others as will appear as the description proceeds, the invention comprises the various novel features of construction and arrangement of parts which will be more fully described hereinafter and set. forth with particularityin the claims appended hereto. 1

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate one embodiment of the invention; Figure 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a. grip or valise having the improved locking device. Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of the locking device. Fig. 3 is a detail sectional view on line 33 of Fig.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the looking cam. Fig. 5 is a vertical section on line 5 5 of Fig. 2. Fig. 6 is a plan View of the hey loci r. Fig' 7 is a detail sectional view on line 7-7 of Fig. 2.

Similar reference characters are employed to designate corresponding partsthroughout the several views. j

In the presentinstance, I have selected to illustrate the invention as applied to an ordinary grip or valise, but it is to be 1111- dcrstood that the locking device. may be employed for suit cases, square traveling bags,

, purses, and the like, without any modification in the method of operation.

Referring to the drawing, A designates the body of a grip, which has the usual frame pieces land 1 at the opening of the body to reinforce. and eifectively close the same. On the outer frame piece 1 is secured a casing 2 for the latching or locking device. This deviceas shown in Fig. 2, consists of two latch bars or rods 3, e: ;tending iongitudinally of the casing and having their outer ends passin through openings 4 in the end walls of t e casing, and these projecting ends are round at 5 to engage in sockets or recesses 6 of fixed catch members 7'. on the under frame piece 1 that are so disposed to lie fiat against the end walls of the casin when the grip is closed, and during the closing movement, the latch bars will be pressed inwardly until they are opposite the recesses 6 when they will spring outwardly to lockin position. 'These latching rods are yielding ly held projected by a heli-- cal spring 8 encircling each rod and disposed between a collar 9 on the rod and a bearing 10 fixed in the casing, the collar bein secared to the rod. The inner ends '0 the rods are pivotally'connected at 11 with a rocker or lever 12 centrally pivoted atl3 in the'bottom of the casing or on the section 1 of the grip. This rocker has one end connected by a link 14 with a slide mounted on the top of the casing and having a stem 16 extending through a slot 17 in the casing and connecting with the link 14. It will thus be seen that by moving the slide in one direction, the latch rods 8 will be drawn inwardly so that the grip can be opened and as soon as the slide is released, the springs 8, which are pressed by the movement of the slide, willcause the latch-rods to return to normal projected position. It may be desirableto latch the grip closed at a point intermediate the ends of the casing and for this purpose, a pivoted latch 18 is arranged at the center of the casing and by means of a. link '19, it is connected with a central arm 20 on the lever 12, and this-latch pro jects through an opening 21 in the side of the casing 2 and enters a hollow. catch 22. projecting upwardly from the frame section 1 and the latch has a projection 28 which engages the portion 24 of the said catch 22. In order that the catch 22 may yield during the closing of the grip, the outer surface of the latch 18 is beveled at 25 so that when the portion 2 strikes the Patented Nev. as. rare;

beveled part of the latch,the latter will tilt .to one side so as toenter the hollow catch can be swung into and out of engagement .jections 37 and. 38, w

with the same. As shown in Fig.2, vthe latches are locked in gripping position, since the device 26 engages the lever and prevents the same from being actuated in a direction to release the latches; This member 26 is adapted to be operated by a key 27 insertiblc in a lock of any approved construction, such, for instance, as a Yale lock. This lock comprises in the present instance, a fixed barrel 28 in WlllCh is a plug 29, that has a slot 30 for receiving the key. The barrel is fastened in the casin 9 and the rotation of the plu can be effected only'by a key of certain s ape, since tumblers 31 are employed. The plug 29 has its lower end extending-through an opening in the cam element 26 and entered in a hole in the bottom ofthe casing 1, and in this cam element is arranged a' socket orrecess 32,.

into which engages a projection 33 on the end of thekey. The projections and sockets can be varied as to their location and shape so that a large variety of keys may be. employed so that this feature, in connection With the tumblers will effectively prevent the opening or unlocking of the grip by askeleton key or other instrument. The barrel or casing 28, as shown in Fig. 6, has two slots 34 and 35, and when the plug 29 of the lock has its key hole in line with one slot, thekey can be inserted and turned for throwing the camlor device 26 to locking position and at this time the key will be op- 45 4 withdrawn.

posite the other slot so that'the key can be In 'order to hold the device 26 in either locked or unlocked position, the under side thereof is provided with a depression or socket 36 intowhich engages one of two proen the devioe'is in either-position, the said projections bein arranged on the bottom of the casin 1, and if desired, a spring 39 may be empfiyed to press the device 26 downwardly to hold the same on either projection and thereby prevent accidental movement of the cam device. By the use oi the cam device, the latches will be effectively locked, and should the latches refuse to Work for any reason, the cam can serve to force the latches to locking position.

From the foregoing description taken inconnection with the accompanying drawmgs'," the advantages of the construction and of the method of o eration will be readily apparent to those s lied in the art to which the invention relates, and while I have described the principle of operation of the invention, to ether with the device which I now consider to be the best embodiment thereof, I desire to have it understood that the device shown is merely illustrative and that such changes may be made when desired as are within the scope of the claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A locking device for grips and the like comprising separate members,latches on one of the members, catches on the other niche ber with which the latches engage, an oscillator member to which both latches are pivotal y connected for simultaneous movement, an oscillatory device disposed in the same plane with the oscillatory member to engage the same when the latches are'in locking position, means for yieldingly holding the device into or out of engagement with the member, and a lock disposed adjacent the device for permitting the latter to be shifted to and from member-engaging position by a key directly engaged w1th the evice.

2. A lockin device for grips and' the like comprising a atch, a'catch, means for yieldingly holding the latch in engagement with the catch, an oscillatory member connected with the latch, means for moving the member to disengage the latch from the catch, a pivoted device movable into and out of engagement with the member, a lock having a plugeoincident with the axis on which the device moves, means on the device with which a key inserted in the lock engages for moving the device to and from member-err gaging position, stops for limiting the movement of the device, and means for yieldingly holding the device in engagement with the stops when the device is in either extreme position.

3. A locking device of tlie class described comprising separate members relatively movable, a casing on one of the members, locking rods mounted in the casing projecting out of the ends thereof, a pivoted latch projecting out of the side of the casing, a lever pivoted in the casing and to which all the latches are connected for simultaneous movement, catches on the other member to be engaged by the latches, means for moving the lever to release the latches, a key actuated member pivoted in the casing to move into and out of engagement with the lever for locking and unlocking the same, means onvthe key-actuated member with which a key engages to move the member positively into and out of engagement with the lever, and a key lock arranged in coo erative relation with the key actuated mem er to engage the key with the last-mentioned means while Elle key is in the lock for actuating the memer.

4:. A locking device of the class described comprising separate members relatively movable, a casing on one of the members, locking rods mounted in the casing projecting out of the ends thereof, a pivoted latch Projecting outof the side of the casing, a ever pivoted in the casing and to which all the latches are connected for simultaneous movement, catches on the other member to be engaged by the latches, means for moving the lever to release the latches, a key actuated member pivoted in the casing to move into and out of engagement with the lever for locking and unlocking the same, a key lock arranged in cooperative relation with the key actuated member to engage the key with the member while the key is in the lock for actuating the member, and means for 'yieldingly holding the key actuated member in either locking or unlocking posit1on.

Intestimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

Witnesses EDWARD HUTH, ALBERT HUTH.

DE KELLER STAMEY. 

